>A “Gross Building Area Regulation” ordinance is scheduled for introduction during the Village Council’s September 19 Public Meeting.
The ordinance, intended to curb the construction of “McMansions” within Ridgewood, will mandate that the square footage of uninhabitable sections of homes, garages hallways, entrance foyers, utility rooms, etc., now be included when calculating total property coverage.
Until this ordinance passes, uninhabitable portions of single family residences are not included in this calculation, which permits larger homes to be constructed without obtaining approvals from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Councilman Jacques Harlow pushed for adoption of this ordinance more so than any other member of the Council.
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>how about including anti- mchospital in that……..
>It’s about time! But let’s not make it impossible for homeowners to make improvements or add additions. Lte’s keep the baby and the bathwater.
>i dont think ridgewood has any overly gross mcmansions. there is already some sort of ordinance in place that limits lot coverage. i have no prob if someone wants to knock down some old dump and build a nice house within the zoning regs. let them pay the new taxes that go along with the new construction. we have no industry ‘ratables’ so how else will the village get revenues unless EVERYONES tax bill goes up
>Can anyone share their recent tax re-evaluation inspection experience. The inspector who is doing my neighborhood is busting everyones b*lls. Some of my neighbors have thought of complaining because they feel the inspector was overly invasive (going through closets, spending a good deal of time in obviously unfinished areas, peaking in neighbors windows, etc).
I missed the inspector 2x and got an “exterior appraisal” which included 9 rooms, 3 bathrooms, HVAC=HWBB, a full finished and heated attic and a full finished heated basement. In actuality, my house has 6 rooms, 1.5 bathrooms, HVAC=HW/Steam, an unfinished/unheated attic, and an unheated/unfinished basement. Where are they getting this stuff from? My house is 1550 square feet and there’s no way I could have 9 rooms (I wish). I’m hoping this inspector has my past appraisals in front of him but how could he be so off. It seems to me that this is an intimidation tactic to gain access to homes where the homeowner is perceived to be uncooperative (I work long hours and was assigned, by the inspector, I reinspection time I would not be home).
Anyone with any experience?
>None…What about that monstrocity at spring and brookside, that’s been at least two years in the making?? There should also be a time limit so construction doesn’t take years.
>There needs to be some balance with regard to house size and variances, but since good taste and common sense can’t be regulated, there needs to be stronger controls. The person that said there aren’t any in Ridgewood must not have been here recently; there’s not a section town that doesn’t have one.
>time limit would be nice. some neighbor of my parents decided to knock down their old ranch and replace with a larger home. its been prob 2 years also. the blame is squarely with the owners wife who has scared numerous tradesman off the job since shes such a moody bitch. I do not know how a time limit could be enforceable by law, since there is always somewhere to lay the blame=contractors, weather, banks etc. The EASY way to FORCE a limit would be to IMMEDIATELY set the PROPERTY tax @ the highest level, rather than wait for a CO (certificate of occupancy)> that would be an incentive to get it done. I have ‘heard’ that the house referred to by 7;12 WILL have the largest property tax bill in town…im gonna have to take a drive by…maybe someone can post a PICTURE for all of us to see???
>The house at Spring and Brookside has been under construction since at least the summer of 2003. So make that 4 years, not 2.
>ummmm been here 38 years 7;29. perhaps some houses are not within your ‘tastes’ but within zoning parameters regarding heights, setbacks, etc. Sure there are larger homes next to smaller older ones..and lots of GROSS additions to older ones with no taste. MCmansions = 6000 sq ft house next to 1200sq ft cape as seen in fairlawn, cliffside park etc. I remember all the bitching about a new brick house on heights rd a few years ago (preceding the historic district designation). While it may not be to someones liking, tough #*&&%. they played by the rules and built what THEY thought was nice. its their money. I may not like my neighbors choice of colors, style, size, additions, but if the zoning laws are complied with there isnt anything that can be done. You cannot legislate taste. One can purchase in a gated commununity with architecture that complements the other homes, and restrictions/convenants regarding many things (that zoning here already covers such as boats, motorhomes, trucks, peeling paint etc)> Too bad there is not a development in town with those covenents…i would be the first to write a check to get in!
>I do not live in Ridgewood – only work here but that house on Brookside & Spring looks absurdly out of place – that stone wall alone appears to be taking forever to complete!
>Hopefully this will apply to McHospitals as well. They are trying to create one over on Van Dien
>What hospital?
Anyway I agree with 8:57, If you don’t like it tough.
These homes generate much needed taxes.
I say build em big and collect the taxes so the guy in the Cape home can be spared a tax increase.
PS take a look at the home on Barington and Hillcrest, it covers more then 50% of the property, how come?
>Give me a McMansion over a McHospital any day…. right on 9:04